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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

WPT LEGENDS: JOSH HALE LEADS AS WPT HOSTS STACKED FINAL TABLE

One thing is for sure - tonight's WPT Legends of Poker Final Table will not - ok, should not - dissapoint as some of poker's big hitters hope that this is their time to pickup a first WPT title at the Bicycle Casino near Los Angeles.

Josh Hale (2012 QJ/PTPR Rank: NR) refused to succumb to the veterans last night as we drew closer and closer to a final table. Hale - who will receive Player of the Year point for the first time of his career tonight - was the chip leader late last night and continued to pickup chips all the way through to the final whistle.

Hale will start the day with a +2:1 chip advantage over his second place opponent.

That man starting the day in second is no other than two-time WSOP bracelet winner Greg "FBT" Mueller (2012 QJ/PTPR Rank: T-113th). Mueller had a good start to the WPT LAPC - the last time the WPT was in the Los Angeles area - but fizzled quickly and was unable to make the kind of noise he hopes to make tonight.

Mueller, who concentrates mostly on cash games when he's not spending his summers at the WSOP, is an accomplished tournament player nonetheless and could very well be the odds-on favourite to get things done later tonight.

Former WSOP Circuit Rincon Regional winner Ali Eslami (2012 QJ/PTPR Rank: 364th), two-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen (2012 QJ/PTPR Rank: 608th) and Max Steinberg (2012 QJ/PTPR Rank: T-53rd) (who owns a WSOP bracelet of his own) are three of the other major threats and are three other reasons that things should be very interesting once we shuffle up and deal.

A win for Steinberg would also catapult him into the QuadJacks Poker Player of the Year Top 5.

We are moments away from final table play. WPT.com will provide "live" coverage (on a 30-minute delay) starting at 4:30pm PT.

So forget Big Brother, forget the NL and AL pennant races for a night and forget about the Theo Walcott rumours coming out of London and settle in and enjoy the action as Tony Dunst brings up live coverage from beautiful Bell Gardens.